Govt to reclaim mined lands & strengthen Minerals Commission-Chief of Staff announces
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, has announced that the government will embark on an ambitious programme to reclaim degraded mining lands and convert them into productive agricultural farmlands as part of efforts to promote sustainability and accountability in Ghana’s extractive sector.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah
The announcement was contained in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, at the launch of the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship at the Australian High Commission in Accra on Tuesday, October 28.
Mr. Debrah said the initiative forms a key component of the government’s Reset Agenda, which aims to ensure that Ghana’s natural resources benefit all citizens while protecting the environment and promoting long-term national development.
“As outlined in the 2024 Resetting Ghana Manifesto, the government will reclaim and convert mined lands into viable agricultural farmlands,” he stated.
He further indicated that government will enhancing the capacity of the Minerals Commission to effectively regulate the mining industry, facilitate gold trade, and ensure efficiency and sustainability in operations.
According to the Chief of Staff, government will also deploy advanced technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to track excavators and geo-fence mining concessions as part of a broader strategy to improve transparency and curb illegal mining.
“The extractive sector cannot be left to chance,” Mr. Debrah stressed. “It must be regulated, monitored, and reported on with precision, and the media has a central role to play in that accountability chain.”
He added that the government remains committed to openness and welcomes constructive scrutiny from the media as a partner in promoting accountability and sustainable governance of the extractive sector.
“The Reset Agenda is built on transparency,” he said. “We see media oversight not as confrontation, but as collaboration — a partnership to protect our environment and ensure equitable use of our natural wealth.”
The Africa Extractives Media Fellowship, supported by the Australian High Commission and partner institutions, aims to build the capacity of journalists to report on natural resource governance and strengthen transparency across Africa’s extractive industries.By:Abigail Arthur
